I saw this PHENOMENAL e-session on Wedding Chicks the other day and couldn’t believe my eyes. Let me explain.

There have been a LOT more risqué photo shoots on the internets these days. But just because they’re becoming more prevalent, it doesn’t mean I’m getting used to them. Each time I catch a glimpse of a brand spankin’ new butt, or the side-most section of a titter-tatter, I feel like a peeping Tom. It’s like I’m seeing something I shouldn’t be seeing…

But then I scroll down – because you can’t look away… I mean, right? – and I’m usually met with a bevy of absolutely stunning, evocative images that prove to me, almost every time, how beautiful and important these sessions truly are to the subjects involved. Of course, there’s the obvious drive in pretty much all of us to capture forever on film the smooth, supple skin of our youth… the fleeting, all over “perkiness,” if you will. But there’s also a deeper, less superficial purpose to these sessions, and it involves the unique bond between these couples. It screams off the page in sessions like these. That electric love experienced by both partners charges these images, and who doesn’t want that etched in something that lasts forever… say, film?

Well… Joyce, Joey and Ellen of Hong Studio: this is what I consider a mission accomplished:

I should note here that the shoot wasn’t wholly scandalous. I mean, even the finest couple needs a few shots to take home to Grandma. So, Grandma’s shots:

Precious. Touching. Totally innocuous. Grandma will never catch on that they were just sexing it up, naked-style half an hour earlier.

Umm… s’cute! as my baby nephew says:

Here’s a fun fact: the breathtaking bride-to-be has her own eyelash studio in Vancouver, Canada. Uh, wow, Joyce. I’m impressed. It’s called Noir Lash Lounge Inc. Sadly, I couldn’t be farther from Vancouver, and I don’t have a good enough reason to take a trip out there any time soon. (My bank account doesn’t consider eyelashes a good enough reason, and I have to agree with it.) Oh, and by the way, she’s not just the owner… she’s also a client! HAHAHAHHHH yeah I’ll be here all week.

In honor of the Superbowl (currently playing on our flat screen as I begin writing, which should reveal my level of interest), I thought I’d throw a few ideas on a theme your way…

(That was the tamest image I could find by googling the words “football” and “woman.” Don’t even try it with “girl.” *Sigh.*)

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Okay, first, you’ll need to answer a few quick questions to determine if this post is really for you. Here we go:

Does your man love the football? Are you planning your wedding? If that’s two affirmatives, then I have a three-part question for you; answer ‘Yes’ to any of these three parts, and you might love this post…

Do you love football, too / Are you just looking for any stunt that’ll get your man more interested and involved in the wedding planning / Are you having a really, really laid back celebration? If there’s a yes in there somewhere, then it’s quite possible that this post is tailor-made for you!

Moving right along… let’s talk food. (Yay!) One thing I can get behind, no matter what, is a good ol’ fashioned pig-in-a-blanket (err, mini hot dog – same difference). I apologize to the sticklers out there, really, I’m sorry, but I’m so a fan of this tastiest of finger foods. And just look at this arrangement we have below! Three de-freakin’-licious looking appetizer suggestions, plus one questionable but most likely thirst-quenching boozy drink idea (beer margaritas? I was thinking the same thing), all geared towards a fantastic Superbowl get-together. So, why not your wedding, too?

Offer those mouth-watering comfort foods, not to mention the booze, during your cocktail hour, and your friends and relatives will thank you for inviting them to your wedding and mean it. Not to mention the effect it could have on all of the men who got dragged along by your currently single girlfriends or cousins (men who don’t yet know how cool you and your hubby-to-be are). You can imagine how pleasantly surprised said bachelors will be when they realize the sheer amount of joy a man can experience… at a wedding. Women everywhere will thank you, for doing your part, however unwittingly, to make at least one man out there a little bit more comfortable with the idea of getting married. WOW what a tangent.

Oh how sweet it is. You know what’s great about dessert? I mean besides everything? When it comes to football-themed-wedding-appropriate dessert, the only thing footbally about it will be the appearance. Oh yes, it may look like a football, but that cupcake is not going to taste like a football. It’s going to taste like a moist, sugary, delicious cupcake. And it will be AWESOME.

Tomorrow, it’s back to the super pretty, super fun Valentine’s Day Inspired Goodness – and boy do I have some things to show you!! Plus – loads of truly incredible wedding inspiration. (Seriously, you wouldn’t believe me if I told you how many photos I flipped through this weekend.)

I love it when I randomly take a look at one of the many lovely shops I’ve “Favorited” on Etsy, and find – always to my surprise, for some reason – new and outstanding product ready for purchase. Say it with me, folks – new product. Ahh, just rolls off the tongue, doesn’t it. In a hard consonant kind of way.

Well, this was my experience when I paid a visit to my “Favorite Sellers” page recently, clicked on my old friend Sigmosaics AND SAW THESE:

(I know what you’re saying – but no, those are not the same eggs from Friday’s Fab Finds… they are, in fact, smaller mini eggs, and in summer hues. No I’m not joking, they’re different. Scout’s honor.)

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Does breakfast in bed sound like the perfect way to spend your Valentine’s Day? Then ask him to buy you one of these – but make sure he knows that you’d like it filled with food before he presents it to you. Remember, men don’t read minds! (Thank God.)

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How about some heart-shaped creations? I’d feel pretty lucky to receive one of these little works of art mid-February…

Oh, and by the way, here are two additional reasons why I have mad love (do the kids still say that?) for Kerrin, the creative force behind Sigmosaics:

1. 10% of the listing price of nearly all the items I’ve displayed above (save for the mini mosaic eggs) will be donated to the American Cancer Society.

And, as if that wasn’t enough…

2. An excerpt from her bio:

“Sigmosaics is how I became known amongst my customers in Portugal coupled with the fact it is also the name of my website … therefore I decided to also use this name for my Etsy shop. My children provided the inspiration for the ‘Sig’ part … it’s their initials!”

I’m a sucker for rolling in your kids’ initials when naming your business. That’s just a certain kind of special, and it’s the kind that I love.

I thought I liked my butt until I saw yours, Miss. I hope you don’t mind me staring a bit. I don’t think you do, since you’ve made it the photographic focal point. So I’m going to keep my eyes fixed, as well as send a little shout out to Chris Nicholls for gifting the world with your assets.

By the way, here’s a Fab Friday Tip I remembered I wanted to tell you:
When you finalize your guest list, assign each address a unique number. Write it lightly but legibly on the back of your response cards before mailing them. This way, if Mr. and Mrs. Friendorfoe forget to write their names on the card, or Mr. Friendorfoe’s handwriting is atrocious, you’ll still know who’s responding. Problem solved.

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Speaking of wedding correspondence, I scanned these two pages out of my Speedball Textbook to show you. This right here is a great reference tool for writing out your guests’ addresses. Click on the image and print it for easy reference, if you’re diy’ing it, like me.

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Speaking of writing/typography… I love visiting Briar Press for their awesome Cuts & Caps, many of which are totally free. And that – say it with me – is a wonderful thing. This one here costs money, but it’s my favorite “A” so it gets featured.

You must visit his site. Seriously. No, seriously, because I need some opinions on whether this is physically possible. Please weigh in.

And Peter, if you see, this… HOW do you DO THIS, my friend?!?!! Is this learned, or innate? I think I love you and would like to be your artist-world-partner, assuming you aren’t already tied down, or anything. (?) Our marriage would be based on your talent, not a bond of love, since I haven’t met you. But that seems to be enough for a lot of people, so whaddya say?